Toei Animation denies granting Dragon Ball license to French park

Toei Animation issued a statement on Thursday denying reports that it had granted licensing rights for the Dragon Ball franchise to a French theme park, according to industry sources. The Japanese animation studio, which holds the rights to the iconic manga and anime series, moved swiftly to address speculation circulating in media regarding potential theme park partnerships in Europe.

The company did not elaborate on the specific claims it was refuting or identify which French facility had been mentioned in connection with the franchise. However, the denial underscores Toei Animation's careful stewardship of Dragon Ball intellectual property, which remains one of the most commercially valuable assets in the anime industry.

Dragon Ball, created by manga artist Akira Toriyama, has generated substantial revenue for Toei Animation through licensing agreements for merchandise, streaming rights, and video games across global markets. The franchise has periodically been subject to speculative reports regarding expansion into new entertainment venues.

Toei Animation has not announced any new theme park partnerships involving Dragon Ball at this time. The studio continues to manage licensing discussions with various international operators, a spokesperson indicated.